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More often than
we realize, we distance ourselves from others, even just in our thoughts,
by defining other groups as separate from ourselves. This happens
with our attitudes toward various ethnic groups, cancer patients, flood
victims, homeless people - we may sympathize and even try to help, and
yet, there is a portion of us that holds ourselves apart. But, if
someone WE love is a part of that group, it's different.
This is why Community Cousins was founded: to provide people of all backgrounds a ready opportunity to develop a personal stake in each others lives.
Here's how
it works: families of different races are matched up. They
initially meet at one of our all-Cousins gatherings. Then they are
encouraged to interact in any way that fits into their lifestyles and time
schedules and they are invited to fun get-togethers with clusters of Cousins
families. They may attend each others' birthday parties and
ball games. They may go to the movies together or meet for pizza.
They may share their favorite recipes. Some pass along items such
as high chairs, car seats, clothing, books and toys. And in the process,
a thread of friendship is woven through their lives. We have a wonderful
group of families who were once total strangers and are now sharing their
lives with each other. Barriers have gone up between people brick
by brick, and that's how they must come down: one person at a time.
Many parents tell
their children that race is not important - it's what's inside that
counts. However what we DO speaks much more loudly than what we say.
And it's hard for children to learn this lesson if their own family does
not have any close friends of a different race or ethnicity. Community
Cousins offers families the important opportunity to let their actions
speak in harmony with their words.
Prejudice travels
in all directions and comes in many forms, both subtle and overt.
But the whole picture changes and issues are very different when they affect
someone that we KNOW and CARE about personally. This requires a journey
that has happened repeatedly in Community Cousins and is cause for tremendous
encouragement. Please read on to find out more about who we are,
what we are doing and how we'd like to include YOU!
